There’s no better antidote to a cold day than wrapping your hands around a steaming latte. Here’s one to add to your homemade tea latte repertoire: the London Fog! This latte with Earl Gray tea is sweet and creamy, with the gentle essence of honey, vanilla and lavender blossoms. It’s a total treat! Don’t want to venture out to your local coffeeshop? This recipe is part of our Barista Series where we show you how to make all of your favorite tea and coffee drinks…homemade!
What’s in a the London Fog drink?
The London Fog is a tea latte that consists of Earl Gray tea, milk, and vanilla syrup (or honey). Most modern versions of the drink also include lavender, added by Starbucks when it incorporated the drink into its menu. Who invented the London Fog? The drink was born in 1997 at Vancouver’s Buckwheat Café, when a pregnant woman named Mary Loria asked for a latte with Earl Gray tea. Other coffee houses try to claim the drink, but Mary claims she was the original, though it’s unknown who came up with the drink name (read more here). Here’s what you’ll need for this spin on the London Fog:
Earl gray teaLavenderHoneyVanilla extractWhole milk
The best milk for a London Fog
The best milk for a London Fog? Whole milk. The milk fat is what makes the frothiest foam and gives a latte a rich, creamy flavor. Whole milk is our top choice for the London Fog, but there are a few alternatives including a non-dairy option:
Whole milk (top choice). This makes the best frothy foam and has the richest flavor.2% milk. 2% also works, though it’s not as creamy. Oat milk. Oat milk is your best bet for a non-dairy London Fog drink because it froths the best of any vegan milk.
The tea: Earl Gray!
The one thing that’s standard about a London Fog drink? Earl Gray tea, a popular British tea blend flavored with bergamot. It tastes floral, with a distinct citrusy finish. It’s perfect for combining with the delicate flavors of lavender and honey! You can use a tea bag or loose tea for this recipe. You’ll need either:
1 tea bag2 teaspoons loose tea
Where to find dried lavender buds
Most London Fog recipes include dried lavender, but it wasn’t included in the original form of this drink. It’s an addition made by Starbucks, but it’s become the most popular way to make a London Fog because the flavors really work. The floral lavender fits perfectly against the citrusy Earl Gray tea and cozy vanilla. Where to find dried lavender? Look in the spices aisle at your local grocery. Most spice sections have jars of culinary lavender. (Use leftovers for Lavender Tea, Lavender Lemonade or a Lavender Gin Cocktail!)
Steaming vs frothing the milk
The most important part of a London Fog drink? Deciding how you’ll steam or froth the milk! There are two options and they depend on the equipment you have on hand:
Steam the milk with an espresso maker. If you’ve got one, it’s the absolute best tool for the job. It takes a little practice, but it’s loads better than frothing in terms of quality. Go to How to Steam Milk.Froth the milk with a hand frother or whisk. This is the easiest option! We’ve researched a bunch of ways to froth milk that also work well for a homemade London Fog. Go to How to Froth Milk.
How to make the London Fog drink (basic steps!)
Once you’ve compiled all the ingredients and equipment, making a homemade London Fog drink is simple. Here’s what to do:
Make the tea. Simply boil the water and seep the tea bag with the lavender.Use fresh milk! To get the best froth, use fresh milk. If the milk you use has been in the fridge for a while, it’s possible it might not froth.Froth or steam the milk and vanilla. See the tips in How to Steam Milk and How to Froth Milk.Pour the tea and milk into the cup. When you pour in the milk, the beautiful, creamy and frothy foam follows! Top with a few lavender blossoms if you like.
That’s it! Let us know what you think of this homemade London Fog in the comments below!
More tea lattes
Love making lattes with tea? Here are our top homemade tea lattes:
Try a basic Tea Latte with black teaGo for a Chai Latte with the aromatic spices of masala chaiTry a beautifully-scented Vanilla Chai LatteOpt for cold with an Iced Chai Latte
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